by Simon Goliath
Sven Goran Eriksson emotional on the bench at Anfiled for the charity match between Legends and Ajax. Tour of the pitch with Gerrard. «I have cancer and it is not curable, but I am standing. Life remains beautiful”
A smile that clashes with the disease, a joy that mocks pancreatic cancer. Sven Goran Eriksson spoke about it for the first time in January: “It’s not operable, at best I have a year left.” But seeing him in front of the bench at Anfield, his lifelong dream, the former coach who won everywhere (even in Italy with Lazio, Roma and Sampdoria) seemed full of life as never before. At 76 years old he sprints and jumps like a little boy. The home of Liverpool, the team of his heart thanks to the passion inherited from his father, welcomed him like one of the family. Almost 60 thousand spectators, a bedlam comparable to the historic Champions League nights.
A stadium that almost collapsed when in the last 15 minutes of the match goals from Djibrial Cisse, Nabil El Zhar and idol Fernando Torres overcame the Ajax legends, led by the class of Litmanen and two goals ahead at the end of the match first half thanks to Derk Boerrigter and Kiki Musampa. From 0-2 to 4-2, Eriksson would have won even if he lost, but it’s better this way. “He must have made himself felt in the locker room,” someone joked, seeing the six changes made by the Swede after the break. The atmosphere is fine, but he’s never liked losing. When Liverpool called him to fulfill his wish by giving him the bench for just one day, Sven didn’t believe it: “I thought it was a joke.” From there he spent entire weeks imagining You’ll Never Walk Alone: ”I couldn’t wait to hear it.”
The moment the public started chanting it, Steven Gerrard gave him a caress, he who by now knows it by heart. Anfield was waiting for its former captain, who now coaches in Saudi but who in the past was the pillar of the English national team led by Eriksson. In the locker room his shirt was hung next to that of Fernando Torres, the striker who in his first year in red almost won the Ballon d’Or (third in 2008 behind Ronaldo and Messi).
Torres, thanks to the teachings of his old teacher, has also embarked on a new career on the bench (Atletico Madrid’s youth team). Unlike many teammates, after retiring he added muscles instead of kilos and now almost looks like a bodybuilder, but – perhaps due to emotion – he devoured at least ten scoring opportunities.
Then, just before leaving, here is the goal that made it 4-2 and the classic slide under the Kop, Liverpool’s historic curve. Getting up, he headed towards the bench where he hugged Eriksson tightly. Before the match, Jurgen Klopp had also done so: «What a legend!», Sven had greeted him, who thanked him for lending him the bench of his dreams. And those of dad who, while still alive, will have been moved in front of the TV. “I’m sick and my cancer is not curable, but I’m up and life remains beautiful” he said emotionally.
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March 23, 2024 (modified March 23, 2024 | 7:05 pm)
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2024-03-23 16:46:13
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